View source for Supreme Allied Commander Europe

{{Short description|Commander of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2022}}
{{Infobox official post
| post                     = Supreme Allied Commander Europe
| body                     = 
| native_name              = 
| flag                     = Flag of the Supreme Allied Commander Europe.svg
| flagsize                 = 200px
| flagborder               = 
| flagcaption              = Standard
| insignia                 = Coat of arms of Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe.svg
| insigniasize             = 90px
| insigniacaption          = SHAPE coat of arms
| image                    = Gen. Christopher G. Cavoli SACEUR.jpg
| imagesize                = 
| alt                      = 
| incumbent                = General [[Christopher G. Cavoli]]
| acting                   =
| incumbentsince           = 4 July 2022<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_197705.htm|title=NATO Secretary General at Allied Command Operations change of command|date=July 1, 2022|access-date=July 3, 2022|website=NATO}}</ref>
| type                     = 
| status                   = 
| department               = [[North Atlantic Treaty Organization]]<br/>[[Allied Command Operations]] ([[Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe]])
| style                    = 
| abbreviation             = SACEUR
| member_of                = 
| reports_to               = [[North Atlantic Council]], <br/>through [[NATO Military Committee]]
| residence                = [[Chateau Gendebien]]
| seat                     = [[Casteau]], [[Mons, Belgium]]
| nominator                = [[President of the United States]], <br/>with [[United States Senate|Senate]] [[advice and consent]]
| appointer                = [[North Atlantic Council]]
| appointer_qualified      = 
| termlength               = 
| termlength_qualified     = 
| constituting_instrument  = 
| precursor                = 
| formation                = 2 April 1951
| first                    = [[General of the Army (United States)|General of the Army]]<br />[[Dwight D. Eisenhower]]
| last                     = 
| abolished                = 
| succession               = 
| unofficial_names         = 
| deputy                   = 
| salary                   = 
| website                  = [https://shape.nato.int/saceur-2 shape.nato.int]
}}

The '''Supreme Allied Commander Europe''' ('''SACEUR''') is the commander of the [[NATO|North Atlantic Treaty Organization]]'s (NATO) [[Allied Command Operations]] (ACO) and head of ACO's headquarters, [[Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe]] (SHAPE). The commander is based at SHAPE in [[Casteau]], Belgium. In effect, SACEUR is the second-highest military position within NATO, below only the [[Chair of the NATO Military Committee]] in terms of precedence.<ref>Force V: The history of Britain's airborne deterrent, by Andrew Brookes. Jane's Publishing Co Ltd; First Edition 1 Jan. 1982, {{ISBN|0710602383}}, p.129, 130, 137, 151.</ref> There is another Supreme Allied Commander in NATO, [[Supreme Allied Commander Transformation]] (SACT), titularly equal, but whose duties are less operational. SACT, in Norfolk, Virginia, has responsibility for capability development rather than operations.

SACEUR has always been held by a [[United States Armed Forces|U.S. military officer]], and the position is dual-hatted with that of [[Combatant commander|Commander]] of [[United States European Command]].

The current SACEUR is General [[Christopher G. Cavoli]] of the [[United States Army]].

==List of holders==
[[File:First NATO flag with Eisenhower.jpg|thumb|Gen. [[Dwight Eisenhower]] in front of the flag of SHAPE on 8 October 1951]]
[[File:SACEUR change of command ceremony 130513-A-IL200-669.jpg|thumb|2013 SACEUR change of command at SHAPE]]
Since 2003 the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) has also served as the head of Allied Command Europe and the head of Allied Command Operations.
The officeholders have been:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aco.nato.int/page61411944.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130225064157/http://www.aco.nato.int/page61411944.aspx|publisher=NATO|location=Brussels|archive-date=2013-02-25|title=List of Former SACEURs}}</ref>
{{Officeholder table start
| showorder          = y
| showimage          = y
| image_title        = Portrait
| officeholder_title = Supreme Allied Commander
| showtermlenght     = y
| showparty          = n
| showdefencebranch  = y
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 1
| image             = EisenhowerChiefofStaffPortrait.jpg
| military_rank     = [[General of the Army (United States)|General of the Army]]
| officeholder      = [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]]
| officeholder_sort = Eisenhower, Dwight
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1890
| died_year         = 1969
| term_start        = 2 April 1951
| term_end          = 30 May 1952
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1951|04|02|1952|05|30}}
| defence_branch    = {{army|United States}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 2
| image             = GEN Matthew Ridgway, Supreme Allied Commander Europe (cropped).jpg
| military_rank     = [[General (United States)|General]]
| officeholder      = [[Matthew Ridgway]]
| officeholder_sort = Ridgway, Matthew
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1895
| died_year         = 1993
| term_start        = 30 May 1952
| term_end          = 11 July 1953
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1952|05|30|1953|07|11}}
| defence_branch    = {{army|United States}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 3
| image             = Alfred Maximilian Gruenther.jpg
| military_rank     = General
| officeholder      = [[Alfred Gruenther]]
| officeholder_sort = Gruenther, Alfred 
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1899
| died_year         = 1983
| term_start        = 11 July 1953
| term_end          = 20 November 1956
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1953|07|11|1956|11|20}}
| defence_branch    = {{army|United States}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 4
| image             = General Lauris Norstad.JPG
| military_rank     = General
| officeholder      = [[Lauris Norstad]]
| officeholder_sort = Norstad, Lauris
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1907
| died_year         = 1988
| term_start        = 20 November 1956
| term_end          = 1 January 1963
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1956|11|20|1963|01|01}}
| defence_branch    = {{air force|United States}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 5
| image             = GEN Lyman L. Lemnitzer, portrait as SACEUR (cropped 2).jpg
| military_rank     = General
| officeholder      = [[Lyman Lemnitzer]]
| officeholder_sort = Lemnitzer, Lyman
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1899
| died_year         = 1988
| term_start        = 1 January 1963
| term_end          = 1 July 1969
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1963|01|01|1969|07|01}}
| defence_branch    = {{army|United States}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 6
| image             = Andrew Goodpaster portrait.jpg
| military_rank     = General
| officeholder      = [[Andrew Goodpaster]]
| officeholder_sort = Goodpaster, Andrew
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1915
| died_year         = 2005
| term_start        = 1 July 1969
| term_end          = 15 December 1974
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1969|07|01|1974|12|15}}
| defence_branch    = {{army|United States}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 7
| image             = General Alexander M. Haig, Jr.jpg
| military_rank     = General
| officeholder      = [[Alexander Haig|Alexander M. Haig Jr.]]
| officeholder_sort = Haig, Alexander
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1924
| died_year         = 2010
| term_start        = 15 December 1974
| term_end          = 1 July 1979
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1974|12|15|1979|07|01}}
| defence_branch    = {{army|United States}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 8
| image             = GEN Bernard W. Rogers, SACEUR.jpg
| military_rank     = General
| officeholder      = [[Bernard W. Rogers]]
| officeholder_sort = Rogers, Bernard
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1921
| died_year         = 2008
| term_start        = 1 July 1979
| term_end          = 26 June 1987
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1979|07|01|1987|06|26}}
| defence_branch    = {{army|United States}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 9
| image             = John Galvin, official military photo, 1991.JPEG
| military_rank     = General
| officeholder      = [[John Galvin (general)|John Galvin]]
| officeholder_sort = Galvin, John
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1929
| died_year         = 2015
| term_start        = 26 June 1987
| term_end          = 23 June 1992
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1987|06|26|1992|06|23}}
| defence_branch    = {{army|United States}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 10
| image             = General John Shalikashvili military portrait, 1993.JPEG
| military_rank     = General
| officeholder      = [[John Shalikashvili]]
| officeholder_sort = Shalikashvili, John
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1936
| died_year         = 2011
| term_start        = 23 June 1992
| term_end          = 22 October 1993
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1992|06|23|1993|10|22}}
| defence_branch    = {{army|United States}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 11
| image             = George A. Joulwan, 1997.jpeg
| military_rank     = General
| officeholder      = [[George Joulwan]]
| officeholder_sort = Joulwan, George
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1939
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = 22 October 1993
| term_end          = 11 July 1997
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1993|10|22|1997|07|11}}
| defence_branch    = {{army|United States}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 12
| image             = General Wesley Clark official photograph, edited.jpg
| military_rank     = General
| officeholder      = [[Wesley Clark]]
| officeholder_sort = Clark, Wesley
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1944
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = 11 July 1997
| term_end          = 3 May 2000
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1997|07|11|2000|05|03}}
| defence_branch    = {{army|United States}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 13
| image             = Joseph Ralston, official military photo.jpg
| military_rank     = General
| officeholder      = [[Joseph Ralston]]
| officeholder_sort = Ralston, Joseph
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1943
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = 3 May 2000
| term_end          = 17 January 2003
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|2000|05|03|2003|01|17}}
| defence_branch    = {{air force|United States}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 14
| image             = James L. Jones 2.jpg
| military_rank     = General
| officeholder      = [[James L. Jones]]
| officeholder_sort = Jones, James
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1943
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = 17 January 2003
| term_end          = 7 December 2006
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|2003|01|17|2006|12|07}}
| defence_branch    = {{marines|United States}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 15
| image             = Gen. Bantz J. Craddock SACEUR.jpg
| military_rank     = General
| officeholder      = [[Bantz J. Craddock]]
| officeholder_sort = Craddock, Bantz
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1949
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = 7 December 2006
| term_end          = 2 July 2009
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|2006|12|07|2009|07|02}}
| defence_branch    = {{army|United States}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 16
| image             = Stavridis SACEUR.jpg
| military_rank     = [[Admiral]]
| officeholder      = [[James G. Stavridis]]
| officeholder_sort = Stavridis, James
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1955
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = 2 July 2009
| term_end          = 13 May 2013
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|2009|07|02|2013|05|13}}
| defence_branch    = {{navy|United States}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 17
| image             = Gen Philip M. Breedlove SACEUR.jpg
| military_rank     = General
| officeholder      = [[Philip M. Breedlove]]
| officeholder_sort = Breedlove, Philip
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1955
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = 13 May 2013
| term_end          = 4 May 2016
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|2013|05|13|2016|05|04}}
| defence_branch    = {{air force|United States}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 18
| image             = Gen. Curtis M. Scaparrotti SACEUR.jpg
| military_rank     = General
| officeholder      = [[Curtis Scaparrotti]]
| officeholder_sort = Scaparrotti, Curtis
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1956
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = 4 May 2016
| term_end          = 3 May 2019
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|2016|05|04|2019|05|03}}
| defence_branch    = {{army|United States}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 19
| image             = Gen. Tod D. Wolters SACEUR.jpg
| military_rank     = General
| officeholder      = [[Tod D. Wolters]]
| officeholder_sort =  Wolters, Tod D.
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1960
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = 3 May 2019
| term_end          = 4 July 2022
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|2019|05|03|2022|07|04}}
| defence_branch    = {{air force|United States}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 20
| image             = Gen. Christopher G. Cavoli SACEUR.jpg
| military_rank     = General
| officeholder      = [[Christopher G. Cavoli]]
| officeholder_sort = Cavoli, Christopher G.
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = {{circa|1965}}
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = 4 July 2022
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|2022|07|04}}
| defence_branch    = {{army|United States}}
}}
{{Officeholder table end}}

==Deputy==
The position of Deputy Supreme Allied Command Europe (DSACEUR) has been known as Deputy Head of Allied Command Operations since 2003. From January 1978 until June 1993 there were two DSACEURs, one British and one German. From July 1993 this reverted to a single DSACEUR.  With a small number of exceptions who were [[Bundeswehr|German military officers]], DSACEUR is normally a [[British Armed Forces|British military officer]]. The officeholders have been as follows:

'''Single DSACEUR''' (April 1951 – January 1978)

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
!No.
!Portrait
!Deputy Supreme Allied Commander 
!Start of term
!End of term
!Branch
!Unit of Commission
|-
|1.
|[[File:Bernard Law Montgomery.jpg|60px]]
|[[Field marshal (United Kingdom)|Field Marshal]]
[[Bernard Montgomery|'''The Viscount Montgomery of Alamein''']], {{Post nominals|country=GBR|KG|GCB|DSO|PC|DL}} 
|2 April 1951
|23 September 1958
|{{Army|United Kingdom}}
|[[Royal Warwickshire Regiment]]
|-
|2.
|[[File:Richard Gale in Normandy June 1944 IWM B 5352.jpg|60px]]
|[[General officer|General]]
[[Richard Gale (British Army officer)|'''Sir Richard Gale''']], {{Post nominals|country=GBR|GCB|KBE|DSO|MC}}
|23 September 1958
|22 September 1960
|{{Army|United Kingdom}}
|[[Worcestershire Regiment]]
|-
|3.
|[[File:The Suez Operation October - December 1956 MH29031.jpg|60px]]
|General
[[Hugh Stockwell|'''Sir Hugh Stockwell''']], {{Post nominals|country=GBR|GCB|KBE|DSO*|}}
|22 September 1960
|1 January 1964
|{{Army|United Kingdom}}
|[[Royal Welch Fusiliers]]
|-
|4.
|[[File:Air Marshal Sir Thomas Pike.jpg|60px]]
|[[Marshal of the Royal Air Force]]
[[Thomas Pike|'''Sir Thomas Pike''']], {{Post nominals|country=GBR|GCB|CBE|DFC*|DL}}
|1 January 1964
|1 March 1967
|{{Air force|United Kingdom}}
|N/A
|-
|5.
|[[File:Sir Robert Bray, 1964.jpg|60px]]
|General
[[Robert Bray (British Army officer)|'''Sir Robert Bray''']], {{Post nominals|country=GBR|GCB|KBE|DSO*|}}
|1 March 1967
|1 December 1970
|{{Army|United Kingdom}}
|[[Duke of Wellington's Regiment|Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment]]
|-
|6.
|
|General
[[Desmond Fitzpatrick|'''Sir Desmond Fitzpatrick''']], {{Post nominals|country=GBR|GCB|GCVO|DSO|MBE|MC}}
|1 December 1970
|12 November 1973
|{{Army|United Kingdom}}
|[[1st The Royal Dragoons]] 
|-
|7.
|[[File:John Mogg.jpg|60px]]
|General
[[John Mogg (British Army officer)|'''Sir John Mogg''']], {{Post nominals|country=GBR|GCB|CBE|DSO*|}}
|12 November 1973
|12 March 1976
|{{Army|United Kingdom}}
|[[Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry]]
|-
|8.
|
|General
[[Harry Tuzo|'''Sir Harry Tuzo''']], {{Post nominals|country=GBR|GCB|OBE|MC|DL}}
|12 March 1976
|3 January 1978
<small>''(As solo DSACEUR)''</small>
|{{Army|United Kingdom}}
|[[Royal Artillery]]
|}
'''Two DSACEURs''' (January 1978 until June 1993)
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="6" |British
!
!
! colspan="6" |German
|-
!No.
!Portrait
!Deputy Supreme Allied Commander 
!Term
!Branch
!Unit of Commission
!Start of term
!End of term
!No.
!Portrait
!Deputy Supreme Allied Commander
!Term
!Branch
!
|-
|8.
|
|General
[[Harry Tuzo|'''Sir Harry Tuzo''']], {{Post nominals|country=GBR|GCB|OBE|MC|DL}} 
|3 January 1978
-
2 November 1978
<small>''(As Co-DSACEUR)''</small>
|{{Army|United Kingdom}}
|[[Royal Artillery]]
|3 January 1978
|2 November 1978
| rowspan="2" |9.
| rowspan="2" |
| rowspan="2" |General
'''[[Gerd Schmückle]]'''
| rowspan="2" |3 January 1978
-
1 April 1980
| rowspan="2" |{{Army|Germany}}
| rowspan="2" | -
|-
| rowspan="2" |10.
| rowspan="2" |
| rowspan="2" |General
[[Jack Harman (British Army officer)|'''Sir Jack Harman''']], {{Post nominals|country=GBR|GCB|OBE|MC}}
| rowspan="2" |2 November 1978
-
9 April 1981
| rowspan="2" |{{Army|United Kingdom}}
| rowspan="2" | [[2nd Dragoon Guards (Queen's Bays)]]
|2 November 1978
|1 April 1980
|-
|1 April 1980
|9 April 1981
| rowspan="2" |11.
| rowspan="2" |[[File:Bundesarchiv B 145 Bild-F047568-0012, Günther Luther.jpg|60px]]
| rowspan="2" |Admiral
'''[[Günter Luther]]'''
| rowspan="2" |1 April 1980
-
1 April 1982
| rowspan="2" |{{Navy|Germany}}
| rowspan="2" |Naval aviation
|-
| rowspan="3" |12.
| rowspan="3" |
| rowspan="3" |[[Air Chief Marshal]]
'''[[Peter Terry|Sir Peter Terry]]''', {{Post nominals|country=GBR|GCB|AFC}}
| rowspan="3" |9 April 1981
-
16 July 1984
| rowspan="3" |{{Air force|United Kingdom}}
| rowspan="3" |[[Royal Air Force Regiment]] (anti-aircraft artillery)
|9 April 1981
|1 April 1982
|-
|1 April 1982
|2 April 1984
|13.
|[[File:Guenter Kiessling.jpg|60px]]
|General
'''[[Günter Kießling]]'''
|1 April 1982
|{{Army|Germany}}
|
|-
|2 April 1984
|16 July 1984
| rowspan="3" |14.
| rowspan="3" |
| rowspan="3" |General
'''[[Hans-Joachim Mack]]'''
| rowspan="3" |2 April 1984
-
1 October 1987
| rowspan="3" |{{Army|Germany}}
| rowspan="3" |
|-
|15.
|
|General
[[Edward Burgess (British Army officer)|'''Sir Edward Burgess''']], {{Post nominals|country=GBR|KCB|OBE}}
|16 July 1984
|{{Army|United Kingdom}}
|[[Royal Artillery]]
|16 July 1984
|26 June 1987
|-
| rowspan="2" |16.
| rowspan="2" |[[File:General John Akehurst.png|60px]]
| rowspan="2" |General
[[John Akehurst (British Army officer)|'''Sir John Akehurst''']], {{Post nominals|country=GBR|KCB|CBE}}
| rowspan="2" |26 June 1987
-
17 January 1990
| rowspan="2" |{{Army|United Kingdom}}
| rowspan="2" |[[Northamptonshire Regiment]]
|26 June 1987
|1 October 1987
|-
|1 October 1987
|17 January 1990
| rowspan="2" |17.
| rowspan="2" |
| rowspan="2" |General
'''[[Eberhard Eimler]]'''
| rowspan="2" |1 October 1987
-
2 October 1990
| rowspan="2" |{{Air force|Germany}}
| rowspan="2" |N/A
|-
| rowspan="2" |18.
| rowspan="2" |
| rowspan="2" |General
[[Brian Kenny (British Army officer)|'''Sir Brian Kenny''']], {{Post nominals|country=GBR|GCB|CBE}}
| rowspan="2" |17 January 1990
-
5 April 1993
| rowspan="2" |{{Army|United Kingdom}}
| rowspan="2" |[[4th Queen's Own Hussars]]
|17 January 1990
|2 October 1990
|-
|2 October 1990
|5 April 1993
| rowspan="2" |19.
| rowspan="2" |
| rowspan="2" |General
'''Dieter Clauss'''
| rowspan="2" |2 October 1990
-
1 July 1993
| rowspan="2" |{{Army|Germany}}
| rowspan="2" | -
|-
|20.
|
|General
[[John Waters (British Army officer, born 1935)|'''Sir John Waters''']], {{Post nominals|country=GBR|GCB|CBE}}
|5 April 1993
-
1 July 1993
<small>''(As Co-DSACEUR)''</small>
|{{Army|United Kingdom}}
| [[Gloucestershire Regiment]]
|5 April 1993
|1 July 1993
|}
'''Single DSACEUR''' (July 1993 – present)
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
!No.
!Portrait
!Deputy Supreme Allied Commander
!Start of term
!End of term
!Branch
!Unit of Commission
|-
|20.
|
|General
[[John Waters (British Army officer, born 1935)|'''Sir John Waters''']], {{Post nominals|country=GBR|GCB|CBE}}
|1 July 1993
<small>''(As solo DSACEUR)''</small>
|12 December 1994
|{{Army|United Kingdom}}
|[[Gloucestershire Regiment]]
|-
|21.
|
|General
[[Jeremy Mackenzie|'''Sir Jeremy Mackenzie''']], {{Post nominals|country=GBR|GCB|OBE|DL}}
|12 December 1994
|30 November 1998
|{{Army|United Kingdom}}
|[[Queen's Own Highlanders]]
|-
|22.
|
|General
[[Rupert Smith|'''Sir Rupert Smith''']], {{Post nominals|country=GBR|KCB|DSO*|OBE|QGM}}
|30 November 1998
|17 September 2001
|{{Army|United Kingdom}}
|[[Parachute Regiment (United Kingdom)|Parachute Regiment]]
|-
|23.
|[[File:Dieter Stockmann.jpg|60px]]
|General
'''[[Dieter Stöckmann]]'''
|17 September 2001
|18 September 2002
|{{Army|Germany}}
|[[Panzergrenadier]]
|-
|24.
|
|Admiral
'''[[Rainer Feist]]'''
|18 September 2002
|1 October 2004
|{{Navy|Germany}}
|N/A
|-
|25.
|[[File:John Reith Turkish Cpt (cropped).JPG|60px]]
|General
[[John Reith (British Army officer)|'''Sir John Reith''']], {{Post nominals|country=GBR|KCB|CBE||}}
|1 October 2004
|22 October 2007
|{{Army|United Kingdom}}
|[[Parachute Regiment (United Kingdom)|Parachute Regiment]] 
|-
|26.
|[[File:Royal Visit 2012 0043 (McColl cropped).jpg|60px]]
|General
[[John McColl (British Army officer)|'''Sir John McColl''']], {{Post nominals|country=GBR|KCB|CBE|DSO|KStJ}}
|22 October 2007
|March 2011
|{{Army|United Kingdom}}
|[[Royal Anglian Regiment]] 
|-
|27.
|[[File:Richard Shirreff (cropped).jpg|60px]]
|General
[[Richard Shirreff|'''Sir Richard Shirreff''']], {{Post nominals|country=GBR|KCB|CBE}}
|March 2011
|March 2014
|{{Army|United Kingdom}}
|[[14th/20th King's Hussars]] 
|-
|28.
|[[File:Siradrianbradshaw.jpg|60px]]
|General
[[Adrian Bradshaw (British Army officer)|'''Sir Adrian Bradshaw''']], {{Post nominals|country=GBR|KCB|OBE}}
|March 2014
|March 2017
|{{Army|United Kingdom}}
|[[14th/20th King's Hussars]] 
|-
|29.
|[[File:James Everard in 2018.jpg|60px]]
|General
[[James Everard|'''Sir James Everard''']], {{Post nominals|country=GBR|KCB|CBE}}
|March 2017
|April 2020
|{{Army|United Kingdom}}
|[[17th/21st Lancers]]
|-
|30.
|[[File:Gen Radford at Desk.jpg|60px]]
|General
[[Tim Radford (British Army officer)|'''Sir Tim Radford''']], {{Post nominals|country=GBR|KCB|DSO|OBE}}
|April 2020
|July 2023
|{{Army|United Kingdom}}
|[[The Light Infantry]]
|-
|31.
|[[File:Vice Admiral Keith Blount (cropped).jpg|60px]]
|[[Admiral (Royal Navy)|Admiral]]
[[Keith Blount|'''Sir Keith Blount''']], {{Post nominals|country=GBR|KCB|OBE|FRAeS}}
|July 2023
|Incumbent
|{{Navy|United Kingdom}}
|[[Fleet Air Arm]]
|}

==Role in intra-European defence integration==
{{See also|European Defence Community|European Union–NATO relations|Common Security and Defence Policy}}

===DSACEUR's role in European Union missions===
Under the 2002 [[Berlin Plus agreement]], SHAPE may take part in the [[European Union]]'s (EU) [[Command and control structure of the European Union|command and control structure]] as an operational headquarters (OHQ) for EU [[List of military and civilian missions of the European Union|missions]]. In such an instance, the [[Supreme Allied Commander Europe#Deputy|Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe]] (DSACEUR), who is always a European, would serve as Operation Commander (OpCdr). This use of SHAPE by the EU is subject to a "right of first refusal", i.e. NATO must first decline to intervene in a given crisis,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.consilium.europa.eu/eeas/security-defence/csdp-structures-and-instruments/eu-operations-centre?lang=en|title=CONSILIUM - EU Operations Centre|website=www.consilium.europa.eu}}</ref><ref>[[The Heritage Foundation]] report, March 24, 2008. {{unfit|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20080326234722/http://www.heritage.org/Research/Europe/wm1863.cfm]}}</ref> and is contingent upon unanimous approval among NATO states, including those outside of the EU.<ref>Bram Boxhoorn, ''Broad Support for NATO in the Netherlands'',  21-09-2005, {{cite web|url=http://www.ataedu.org/article_new.php?id%3D107 |title=Article |access-date=2007-08-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070218090444/http://www.ataedu.org/article_new.php?id=107 |archive-date=2007-02-18 }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Supreme Allied Commander]] – most senior commander within certain multinational military alliances
* [[Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers]] – post-WW2 counterpart during the Allied Occupation of Japan
* [[Secretary General of NATO]]
* [[Chairman of the NATO Military Committee]]
* [[Supreme Commander of the Unified Armed Forces of the Warsaw Treaty Organization]] – [[Warsaw Pact]] counterpart

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|NATO Supreme Allied Commanders}}
* {{Official|https://shape.nato.int/saceur-2}}

{{North Atlantic Treaty Organization}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:NATO Supreme Allied Commanders]]